I am delighted that my application was accepted to join the March Past at the National Commemoration of the Centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign and Anzac Day on 25 April at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, London.
I march in memory of my Grandfather, Malcolm Hancock MC, who served in Gallipoli.
https://thesomme.wordpress.com/malcolm-hancock/
I am currently tweeting his everyday experience from joining up this day (17/04/15) to the end of October ‘15 when he was wounded out.
I visited All Saints Parish Church at Milton Ernest yesterday to add another piece to the Wing Commander John Michael Bryan research jigsaw. But it went further than that.
John Michael Bryan is on the war memorial below.
He also remembered on his mother’s – Lucy Silver Bryan – gravestone. As is his father, John Thomas Ingram Bryan, who was vicar there for 10 years 1935-1945.
They lived at the vicarage, now privately owned and called The Old Rectory. The family now there kindly allowed me to take some photographs.
The house hold significant times and memories for the family.
Three more stops in France in July and John Michael’s story is more or less complete.
I have added another page about John Michael Bryan called John Michael Bryan, a World War II Hero.
I am grateful to Anthony Knight, Secretary of TECT (Typhoon Entente Cordiale Trust www.tect.org.uk) for supplying the information for me on this page and allowing it to be used on this blog.
Next week I am visiting Milton Ernest to see where John Michael lived from 1935. His father, John Ingram Bryan was the vicar there. I will post some photographs and any other information.
In July I am visiting Normandy to see his Memorial Plaque, his Cemetery and the Typhoon Memorial.
I have stated a page on my Great Uncle, Wing Commander John Michael Bryan, and will be visiting his area of fighting and last flight this summer.
More details at: https://thesomme.wordpress.com/wing-commander-john-michael-bryan/
I have booked a trip to Gallipoli for October. For me there are two major aims. First, to follow my Grandfather’s footsteps when he won the MC soon after landing at Suvla Bay "A" beach on 15/08/15 and thereafter he was in and out of Hill 60 until wounded at the end of October. The second is to visit my cousin’s grave at Anzac Cove, that of Sgt Sid Parkes of 6 Light Horse Regiment. He was a regular who had fought in the Boar War. He died 25/05/15 from a sniper and was the first casualty in his regiment after landing.
The Somme 